Columbia Theological Seminary Archives

‘I feel like I really need a Jubilee and I’m guessing some of you do too’

Posted May 19th, 2022

After two days speaking about rest and restoration with the NEXT Church National Gathering, Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes on Wednesday shifted to one of God’s commands that’s likely never been followed: holding a Jubilee year every 50th year as spelled out in Leviticus 25:8-13 and 39-41.

Self care as holy restoration

Posted May 18th, 2022

Self care is “all the rage these days,” NEXT Church keynoter Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes said Tuesday during her second of three talks. It’s a “commodified topic,” but it’s not well understood. Walker-Barnes, Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Counseling at Columbia Theological Seminary, laid out six claims on the topic to help bring understanding to those attending NEXT Church’s National Gathering both in person at Montreat Conference Center and online.

Rest is resistance

Posted May 17th, 2022

After obtaining a PhD and teaching for a few years, Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes decided to enroll in seminary, where her eyes were opened in an unexpected and unpleasant way.

Why do we keep doing these prayers of confession?

Posted May 13th, 2022

Two thoughtful theologians — Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, the J.B. Green Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, and the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology & Worship — put their brains and their hearts on display Thursday during the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ town hall, “Why do we Keep Doing these Prayers of Confession?”

A high risk, high reward endeavor

Posted May 5th, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Jake Myers’ recently-completed book, “Stand-Up Preaching: Homiletical Insights from Contemporary Comedians,” will be published in late summer or early fall. Those who attended the Synod of the Covenant’s Equipping Preachers webinar on Wednesday got a sneak preview of how humor can work well, even when it’s delivered from behind the pulpit.

Could a culture of public forgiveness break our modern outrage cycle?

Posted April 28th, 2022

An article published last month by Vox entitled “Everyone wants forgiveness, but no one is being forgiven” captured our attention. “Modern outrage is a cycle,” the subhead reads. “Could a culture of public forgiveness ever break it?”

Even in our polarized times, it’s possible to preach faithfully on third-rail topics

Posted April 7th, 2022

Each week, preachers make their way to the pulpit — whether wooden or virtual — to deliver a sermon to congregants living in a nation that’s increasingly polarized.

J. Phillips Noble, a civil rights activist who helped guide the Board of Pensions after reunion, dies at age 100

Posted March 16th, 2022

The Rev. James Phillips Noble, a distinguished Presbyterian minister and civil rights activist who helped guide The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Presbyterian reunion, died March 12, 2022, in Decatur, Georgia. He was 100 years old.

Passing the mic

Posted March 4th, 2022

Late last month, Sunspots, a podcast of the Synod of the Sun, turned the mic over to three women to talk about their identity as honest and authentic children of God through the lens of Christian education. Listen to their 55-minute conversation here.

Gracie finds her gift, and so do we

Posted February 28th, 2022

The educator and author who for 15 years has brought Presbyterians the adventures of Gracie the fish revealed to a Between Two Pulpits audience Monday the secret to keeping her underwater tales current: take an annual trip to the local aquarium.